The Form of Love: Poetry's Quarrel with Philosophy

Poetry can articulate something about love that philosophy cannot, as demonstrated by The Form of Love. It shows how poets use poetic form to create a virtual experience of love, exploring intense forms of non-sovereignty and liberating bondage. Tracing how poems think requires close attention to and thinking with the text, revealing how poetry and philosophy can enter into a relation that is itself like love.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2021
Publisher: Fordham University Press

The Form of Love makes a compelling case that poetry possesses the unique ability to articulate aspects of love that philosophy cannot. Through meticulous close readings of seven "metaphysical" poems from the early modern period and beyond, the book demonstrates how poets utilize poetic form to deviate from representing the truth about love and instead create a virtual experience of love in all its diverse manifestations. The Form of Love reveals how poetry creates love that is contingent upon its specific linguistic and rhythmic qualities, and how poems can, in their impossibility, prompt a radical re-imagining of love. Similar to the philosophical frameworks upon which they are based, metaphysical poems envision love as an intense form of non-sovereignty, characterized by a willingness to relinquish control. They even venture into the realm of imagining love as a liberating bond, connecting individuals to friends, beloveds, saints, gods, or gardens. However, what sets these poems apart is their unique approach to portraying love, which is formed within the confines of the text rather than being solely derived from the external devices, structures, and forces associated with love. By delving into the intricate thought processes of poetry, The Form of Love argues that a close and intimate form of reading is necessary to fully comprehend how poetry thinks about love. This exploration reveals how poetry and philosophy can establish a relationship that is akin to love itself, fostering a profound and multifaceted understanding of the human experience.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780823294503